A South Carolina woman was denied bond this week in a human trafficking case linked to the death of an 11-year-old girl. Margaret Roberson faces charges including trafficking in persons and unlawful conduct toward a child. Authorities allege children were forced to clean medical clinics and subjected to severe abuse.
Margaret Roberson, 57, stands accused of five counts of trafficking in persons, three counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, and one count of criminal conspiracy, according to the Horry County Sheriff's Office. The alleged incidents began in January 2025, when Roberson and Camisha Marie McGaskey, 32, reportedly forced five minors to clean medical clinics in and around Conway, about 15 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The children lived at a residence on Sago Palm Drive in Carolina Forest, between Conway and Myrtle Beach. McGaskey was A'Kyri Bell's legal guardian; the 11-year-old girl from Texas died on June 11, 2025, from blunt force injuries after being rushed to a hospital. McGaskey was arrested for her murder that month, with charges later upgraded. Lakesha Burnett, 34, and Alantis Thomas, 22, faced initial obstruction of justice charges, alongside McGaskey. Six adults are now charged in total, including Alexandria Thomas, 20, and Darnell Dearmas, 21, whom prosecutors say contributed to the circumstances leading to the homicide. During Roberson's bond hearing, prosecutor Leigh Waller described abuse meted out for failing to clean: children faced 'the upper room treatment,' involving being taken to an upstairs bathroom and essentially waterboarded. Waller noted videos showing Roberson watching the abuse from her bedroom. One alleged victim testified that Roberson knew of the abuse and thought it was funny. Horry County Police Chief Kris Leonhardtt called it a horrific crime at a press conference, urging reports of suspected abuse. Roberson's attorney, Morgan Martin, disputed her knowledge and argued the labor did not meet human trafficking definitions, citing contradictory child statements and lack of verification from clinics.